IT'S OFFICIAL: 2023 IS OUR BIGGEST YEAR EVER. That means you'll get to see more lit like you want, discover more Oaktown clubs and hideaways, meet more people on the fly, and generally have a whole lot more fun. If you are not involved in one of the curated readings, we urge you to attend one of our THREE OPEN MICs because they are a hotbed of spontaneous creativity.
If you represent a venue, business, or collective and organize events in Old Oakland or on the 14th St Corridor and would like to propose an Event, please contact us through the Event Proposal form on our website or send us an email.
If you represent a venue, business, or collective and organize events in Old Oakland or on the 14th St Corridor and would like to propose an Event, please contact us through the Event Proposal form on our website or send us an email.
Welcome!
LEG 1. 4-5PM
LEG 2. 5:30-6:30PM
LEG 3. 7-8PM
LEG 4. 8:30PM AFTER PARTY
LEG 2. 5:30-6:30PM
LEG 3. 7-8PM
LEG 4. 8:30PM AFTER PARTY
Accessibility of venues is identified on our online map. Please click the “Online Map” button to see accessibility icons listed in the information tab for each venue.
BCLF acknowledges that some curators have agreed to read in other events. We love that!
However, we request that curators not read in their own event if they are booked in another event for the purpose of fair inclusion. Otherwise, curators not booked for another reading should feel free to read in their own event. Similarly, we respectfully request that you read at one event only, to allow for more people to join in the Festival.
If a Curator has a reading in an Event that occurs in the same Leg as their own, let us know who will facilitate yours while you read at the other. We can help you with that.
However, we request that curators not read in their own event if they are booked in another event for the purpose of fair inclusion. Otherwise, curators not booked for another reading should feel free to read in their own event. Similarly, we respectfully request that you read at one event only, to allow for more people to join in the Festival.
If a Curator has a reading in an Event that occurs in the same Leg as their own, let us know who will facilitate yours while you read at the other. We can help you with that.
Covid is still a real threat. Masks and proximity awareness are recommended. We have masks at our Info Table.
Schedule of events for Saturday, July 22, 2023
2 -5 PM, Special Event:
Book Launch for "Fresh Juice/ Jugo Fresco" by Robert Liu-Trujillo at Chapter 510/ Dept. of Make Believe
LEG 1 4pm-5pm
1428 Poets - Awaken Cafe
Afro Surreal Writers - Cape and Cowl Comics
California Writers Club - Make Westing
Milvia Street - Bookmark Bookstore
Oakland Youth Poet Laureate - Dusk Coffee
Poetry Flash - Annapurna Restaurant and Bar
Starting Points - Feelmore Adult
The Throwback Special - Binny's
To Live and Write - Punchdown Wine Bar
Vinograd Open Mic - Oakland Photo Workshop
LEG 2 5:30pm-6:30pm
#we/Queer Perspectives - Awaken Cafe
California Poets in the Schools - Oakland Photo Workshop
Chapter 510 and Friends/ Magical Professors - Chapter 510/ Dept. of Make Believe
Colossus Press - Bookmark Bookstore
Kearny Street Workshop - First Edition
Lower Grand Radio - Tamarack Oakland
Lyrics and Dirges - The Hatch
El Martillo Press - Make Westing
Music - Brooke D. - Dusk Coffee
Naked Bulb - Graffiti Pizza
Pochino Press - Oaklandish
Reginald Lockett Open Mic - Night Heron
SF Creative Writing Institute - Annapurna Restaurant and Bar
Synchronized Chaos - Feelmore Social Club
LEG 3 7pm-8pm
All Gender Reading Group - Feelmore Social Club
Black Freighter Press - First Edition (Patio)
Black Lawrence Press - Chapter 510/ Dept. of Make Believe
Collapse Press - Oaklandish
Happy Endings - Night Heron
J de Salvo Open Mic - Dusk Coffee
Moondrop Productions - First Edition (Balcony)
La Palabra Musical - Graffiti Pizza
Paper Press Books & Co. - Make Westing
Rich Oak/ Make Gold - Tamarack Oakland
Speaking Axolotl - The Hatch
LEG 4 8:30-10:30 Afterparty @First Edition
VENUES:
Annapurna Restaurant and Bar
Awaken Cafe
Binny's
Bookmark Bookstore
Cape and Cowl Comics
Chapter 510/ Dept. of Make Believe
Dusk Coffee
Feelmore Adult
Feelmore Social Club
First Edition
Graffiti Pizza
The Hatch
Make Westing
Night Heron
Oakland Photo Workshop
Oaklandish
Punchdown Wine Bar
Tamarack Oakland
Book Launch for "Fresh Juice/ Jugo Fresco" by Robert Liu-Trujillo at Chapter 510/ Dept. of Make Believe
LEG 1 4pm-5pm
1428 Poets - Awaken Cafe
Afro Surreal Writers - Cape and Cowl Comics
California Writers Club - Make Westing
Milvia Street - Bookmark Bookstore
Oakland Youth Poet Laureate - Dusk Coffee
Poetry Flash - Annapurna Restaurant and Bar
Starting Points - Feelmore Adult
The Throwback Special - Binny's
To Live and Write - Punchdown Wine Bar
Vinograd Open Mic - Oakland Photo Workshop
LEG 2 5:30pm-6:30pm
#we/Queer Perspectives - Awaken Cafe
California Poets in the Schools - Oakland Photo Workshop
Chapter 510 and Friends/ Magical Professors - Chapter 510/ Dept. of Make Believe
Colossus Press - Bookmark Bookstore
Kearny Street Workshop - First Edition
Lower Grand Radio - Tamarack Oakland
Lyrics and Dirges - The Hatch
El Martillo Press - Make Westing
Music - Brooke D. - Dusk Coffee
Naked Bulb - Graffiti Pizza
Pochino Press - Oaklandish
Reginald Lockett Open Mic - Night Heron
SF Creative Writing Institute - Annapurna Restaurant and Bar
Synchronized Chaos - Feelmore Social Club
LEG 3 7pm-8pm
All Gender Reading Group - Feelmore Social Club
Black Freighter Press - First Edition (Patio)
Black Lawrence Press - Chapter 510/ Dept. of Make Believe
Collapse Press - Oaklandish
Happy Endings - Night Heron
J de Salvo Open Mic - Dusk Coffee
Moondrop Productions - First Edition (Balcony)
La Palabra Musical - Graffiti Pizza
Paper Press Books & Co. - Make Westing
Rich Oak/ Make Gold - Tamarack Oakland
Speaking Axolotl - The Hatch
LEG 4 8:30-10:30 Afterparty @First Edition
VENUES:
Annapurna Restaurant and Bar
Awaken Cafe
Binny's
Bookmark Bookstore
Cape and Cowl Comics
Chapter 510/ Dept. of Make Believe
Dusk Coffee
Feelmore Adult
Feelmore Social Club
First Edition
Graffiti Pizza
The Hatch
Make Westing
Night Heron
Oakland Photo Workshop
Oaklandish
Punchdown Wine Bar
Tamarack Oakland